When Will the Nursing Shortage Be Over?

[Nursing CE Central]

Written by Morgan Curry, BSN, RN for Nursing CE Central

It feels like the nursing shortage has been around for a while, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the issue. 

Now that we have made it through what is arguably one of the most difficult seasons in our entire nursing careers, we are feeling the impacts of the nursing shortage now more than ever.  

So, the question is, ‘when will the nursing shortage be over?’ 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of RNs from 2019 to 2029 is projected to increase faster than any other occupation at 7%; the national average for all occupations is about 4%. 

Healthcare systems globally have been strained by the influx of patients, lack of resources, and extreme working conditions; but there is one major outlier that we cannot prevent. 

Time. No matter what we say, do, or believe, there is nothing that can stop it.

Our nursing population is aging, and more nurses are beginning to retire each year; although this is a significant problem to the industry, there are many more factors that come into play that we must address. 

In order to fully understand why the nursing shortage is increasing, let’s break this down some of the most prominent contributing factors.  

Why the Nursing Shortage is Continuing to Worsen 

• Large Aging Populations and Workforce 

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing outlines that the average age for an RN is 50 years, which poses significant risks for the next several years. As the Baby Boomer and Generation X populations begin to retire from the workforce and potentially present health complications that require care, the nursing industry may be hit with more than they can handle. 

• Burnout 

A 2018 JAMA Network Open cross-sectional survey determined that out 50,000 nurses, 31.5% of respondents reported leaving the profession due to burnout.  

A recent Nurse Burnout study from Nursing CE Central identified that out of over a thousand nurses, 95% of respondents claimed to be burnt-out, while 47.9% are actively searching for a less stressful position.

• Turnover 

In the 2020 Nursing Solutions Inc. Health Care Retention Report, nurses have the highest turnover rates of all the allied healthcare professions; and it is continuing to rise. For example, the percentage of national RN turnover in 2019 was 15.9%, and 18.7% in 2020. 

When Will the Nursing Shortage Be Over? 

Rather than improving, the nursing shortage is only growing, so, unfortunately, there is no right or wrong answer to this well-deserved question.  

With increased pressures of the nursing shortage, fatigue, and job dissatisfaction, nurses will only continue to leave the profession.  

So, what can be done about this issue? 

Through the pandemic, hospital institutions along with other employers have been incorporating hazard pay as well as retention and sign-on bonuses to serve as monetary incentives. Of course, all of these are not bad options; however, money can only go so far, and it is only a piece to the entire job satisfaction puzzle. 

Nurses want to feel appreciated and respected; work environment, safety, and work-life balance are major factors that contribute to their job satisfaction.  

Nursing burnout should be addressed as the leading cause of turnover first and foremost. When this national crisis is addressed by employers and hospital institutions, only then will the shortage begin to improve.  

When managers and institutional executives address the root cause of the problem by taking the time to investigate shortcomings, it will allow them to strengthen their team, increase retention, and decrease burnout.  

Nurses, remember why you entered the nursing profession in the first place.  

Your compassion, strength, and grit for the field are unmatched and appreciated more than you know; do not lose sight of this. I know the past year has been extremely difficult for you but try your best to persevere. 

Keep your patients and your nursing philosophy at the root of your care and practice.

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

15 hours ago, Rionoir said:

CA or the small handful of other places that may be true isn't representative of most of the country. So no, that isn't proof of anything. 

That might be true but in these other places the wages are so low no one will work there.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

5 hours ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

That might be true but in these other places the wages are so low no one will work there.

Nurses are drawn to California because of a perception of higher wages. They often fail to do their due diligence and once here find out that the cost of living is triple that of most of the fly-over states, I don't even live in a big city and a one bedroom apartment can cost about $2000.00/mo. My husband and I could not afford the house we are in if we didn't own it outright. 

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

4 hours ago, hppygr8ful said:

Nurses are drawn to California because of a perception of higher wages. They often fail to do their due diligence and once here find out that the cost of living is triple that of most of the fly-over states, I don't even live in a big city and a one bedroom apartment can cost about $2000.00/mo. My husband and I could not afford the house we are in if we didn't own it outright. 

I disagree with that thinking. You will always fare better in a expensive place you make more money, then a inexpensive place you make less. I've already  tried that.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

10 hours ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

I disagree with that thinking. You will always fare better in a expensive place you make more money, then a inexpensive place you make less. I've already  tried that.

Cost of living does need to factor in to a decision to move though.  Housing expenses can easily reach well north of 30% of available income in some high demand areas. I own my home so I don't need to look at income/housing expenses ratios but I do believe no more than 30% for housing is still the guideline for affordability. I admit I may be wrong on that though

[CCHP-RN]

While the last 2 years have definitely added to the "regular nursing shortage", I've been told since 1988, at 18 years old starting nursing school, there was a major nursing shortage. 

At that time, the BSN program I entered only accepted 40 new students every year.  It was the only BSN program in the Lubbock, Texas area, which probably had a 210+mile radius at that time.  The salary for MSN nurses teaching the course (required) was less than a BSN in other areas.  No wonder there was such a limit of students admitted to the program.

I have had many thoughts about the nursing shortage since that time, however, most of you would not agree with me, so I'll just keep thinking them for the next 14 years until I retire.

I hope all of you find the best RN or LPN fit for you.  I have and it's NOT the hospital or "free world" as we call it.

[Melilem]

I am contributing to the nursing shortage myself. It's not because I feel underpaid, on the contrary. I've been working with a local healthcare agency, the owner is just wonderful. I choose my hours. I love my current psych assignment. My coworkers are the best. I cant be mandated. Nobody ever dies. My clients don't have COVID (Although they do sometimes have head lice..so there's that). Still, I have been choosing to work only 24 hours a week because, well, my bills are small and I value life.

a side note; the mental health techs at the 'nonprofit' facility I contract to are only making $11 an hour. One of my techs had been punched by a client twice this week. I wonder why he keeps coming in? It makes me appreciate how fortunate I am to be a nurse.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

4 hours ago, Melilem said:

a side note; the mental health techs at the 'nonprofit' facility I contract to are only making $11 an hour. One of my techs had been punched by a client twice this week. I wonder why he keeps coming in? It makes me appreciate how fortunate I am to be a nurse.

No kidding. I don't  necessarily want to switch focus to the unfair wages of support staff but the lack of available support staff definitely impacts our job as nurses. Hard to delegate appropriately when there's nobody to delegate to.

I can't imagine why anybody would stay in such a difficult job for $11.00/hr when they can go to the golden arches and make $16.00 or more depending on the shift. Plus the benefits are probably better.

[caramelwolf089, BSN, RN]

The market seems too competitive for there to be a nursing shortage. I have read countless of threads about people filling out 100+ applications before getting an interview. 

[Wuzzie]

42 minutes ago, caramelwolf089 said:

The market seems too competitive for there to be a nursing shortage. I have read countless of threads about people filling out 100+ applications before getting an interview. 

It isn't competetive. Hospitals are notorious for posting positions they have no intention of filling. 

[caramelwolf089, BSN, RN]

2 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:

It isn't competetive. Hospitals are notorious for posting positions they have no intention of filling. 

Why do they do that?

 

[Wuzzie]

25 minutes ago, caramelwolf089 said:

Why do they do that?

 

So that they can tell the short-staffed units that they are "trying" to fill the position but "nobody is applying". It's a win-win for them. Shuts the staff up and they don't have to pay any money. 

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

8 hours ago, Wuzzie said:

So that they can tell the short-staffed units that they are "trying" to fill the position but "nobody is applying". It's a win-win for them. Shuts the staff up and they don't have to pay any money. 

...that, and when the state monitors look at how Medicare and SS moneys are being spent hiring nurses, to provide excellent care. They see the website filled with positions and say: Oh, look they are doing a good job spending money hiring nurses, did you see how many jobs they are offering?

It is all a huge pile of BS I'm sorry to say.